The U.S. Department of State has launched a global video contest on YouTube that coincides with the United Nations’ first International Day of Democracy.
Called the Democracy Video Challenge, the contest asks participants to submit three-minute videos that define the meaning of democracy.
“The Democracy Video Challenge asks budding filmmakers, democracy advocates, and the general public to create video shorts that complete the phrase, ‘Democracy is..?’ The winners will be selected by the online voting public,” the official site explains.
Submissions for the video contest will accepted from today through January 31, and a panel will select the semifinalists and finalists. Seven finalists, from different global regions will be determined though online public voting.
The winners will receive an all expense paid trip to the United States that includes screenings of their videos in New York, Hollywood and Washington. They will meet with film directors, public officials and democracy advocates from nongovernmental organizations along with spending time on film and TV sets.
People who want to submit a video anonymously can do so as one anonymous video will be selected as a winner, but that contestant will not be eligible to claim the travel prize.
To enter the video contest participants must be 18 or older. Videos can be any style including fiction, documentary, animated or live action. The videos must be in English or have English subtitles.
Partners for the Democracy Video Challenge include the Directors Guild of America, Motion Picture Association of America, NBC Universal, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
